JING-FANG HSU2026-10-162026-10-162012-02-29Pure ID: 15086937Pure UUID: d71a263b-42a3-4edd-9bc5-d486fcf4cad510.1021/jf204468shttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84859750456https://scholars.csmu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/31543The consumption of free-range eggs is becoming more popular worldwide. We analyzed the levels of 12 dioxinlike polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) and their congener profiles from 6 free-range and 12 caged egg samples. The mean levels of dl-PCBs in the free-range samples were 5.4 times higher than those in caged eggs. All egg samples exhibited at least two characteristic dl-PCB congener patterns, which reflected distinctive contamination sources. Additionally, for the first time, we demonstrated that the dl-PCB levels in the free-range eggs were highly correlated with elevated levels of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) (r = 0.986; p < 0.001), indicating a coexposure scenario in free-range hens. Cluster analysis of congener patterns implied that this coexposure scenario could be attributed to distinct dl-PCB and PCDD/F sources. This congener profile information provides insights from a different perspective for further identifying potential dl-PCB and PCDD/F sources in the polluted free-range eggs.10enjournal article